Richmond rallies for club legend Neville Crowe * Michael Warner
* From: Herald Sun
* March 25, 2010 A RICHMOND great who saved the Tigers from extinction is now facing financial ruin himself.
Neville Crowe, who was captain and president of the famous club, is a broken man after losing his life savings in a dubious investment scheme.
Crowe's health has deteriorated so rapidly he has had to quit his job in Richmond's marketing department.
His wife, Valy, is working three part-time jobs in a desperate bid to pay the bills.
And now the Crowes face the loss of their treasured family home.
"This has crushed me into a thousand little pieces," Crowe, 71, told the Herald Sun.
" I am a broken man. It has affected my health and my confidence - I feel completely vulnerable."
The Tigers have vowed to do everything they can to help the former ruckman, who will tonight put on a brave face when he carries the match ball on to the MCG for the club's season-opening clash against the Blues.
Crowe played 151 games for the Tigers, and was club president in 1990 when Richmond ran into a financial brick wall.
The club needed to raise a massive $1.5 million in just 10 weeks to avoid collapse.
It was Crowe who led the "Save Our Skins" campaign, rattling tins and rallying fans to keep the banks at bay.
The money was raised just days before the deadline.
Tigers CEO Brendan Gale said it was time for the club to return the favour.
"Richmond will do everything it can to help Neville and Valy in their fight to recover their life savings," he said.
"It goes without saying that Neville Crowe is one of the true giants of the Richmond Football Club.
"He has dedicated his whole life to all things Richmond, and to see him treated this way saddens all who know and love him."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-rallies-for-club-legend-neville-crowe/story-e6frf9io-1225844973152
